Posco recently achieved pulverized coal injection rates of 204 kg per tonne of hot metal on all blast furnaces at its Kwangyang Works. The 204 kg/tonne rate is the highest average rate of pulverized coal injection (PCI) in the company, and has helped to significantly lower ironmaking costs.

Posco also set a new record by achieving an average PCI rate of over 200 kg/tonne for three consecutive months since August. After facing intense competition with Japan and China to lower the production costs of hot metal, the achievement is significant as it represents a new method to reduce processing costs.

The Kwangyang Works’ First Blast Furnace made a new record in August by achieving an average PCI rate of 225.5 kg/tonne, and the Second Blast Furnace injected 213 kg/tonne last October, only four months after the firing of its second unit.

Kwangyang Works’ Ironmaking Department has established the "CS (Cost Saving) 1000 Movement" and the "H2 (High Efficiency) Project" throughout all ironmaking processes this year to further develop its ironmaking technologies in reaction to BaoShan Steel & Iron Co.'s lowered costs. Kwangyang Works is focused on the process of pulverized coal injection, which greatly affects the production cost of hot metal and is considered the key to establishing higher competence. The Works developed and applied the technologies of mixing coals with high heating value and injecting separately packaged coal for stable quality of sintering. As a result, Posco has significantly increased the average PCI rate from 160 kg/tonne to over 200 kg/tonne.

Posco has also reduced production costs by using cheaper pulverized coal to supplement the shortage of cokes from China, and has reduced the operation ratio of cokes by increasing the injection of pulverized coal to stably produce high-quality cokes.

If the average PCI rate can be maintained over 200 kg/tonne, the production costs of hot metal in blast furnaces will be reduced.

Kwangyang Works’ Ironmaking Department is already exceeding its target costs through its innovative cost-reduction movement (CS 1000), and will continue its efforts to solidify its world-class competence in low-production cost of hot metal through the use of highly pulverized coal.